Vibrant youth: Members of the Academy Chamber Music Ensemble of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts pose after a concert in Utrecht, the Netherlands, as part of the campaign to relaunch HK.

As part of the campaign to relaunch Hong Kong in Europe, the Academy Chamber Music Ensemble of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts gave an acclaimed performance of classical Chinese and Western music to over 200 guests in Brussels.

This was the second European date for the Ensemble this week.

At a concert in Utrecht, the Netherlands, a day earlier, it received a warm reception from more than 250 guests from political, academic and business circles.

Speaking in Brussels, the Special Representative of Hong Kong to the European Communities, Christopher Jackson, said the event was intended to show Hong Kong was on the rebound after winning its three-month battle against SARS.

It was also meant to celebrate the arts in Hong Kong and to mark the sixth anniversary of the HKSAR's establishment.

Mr Jackson said that Hong Kong people expected to have the world's freest economy, the lowest crime and corruption rates in the region, the busiest container port, the most popular international airport, the busiest air-cargo hub, the most independent judiciary, the strongest legal system, and the widest guaranteed freedoms.

"Anything that might possibly detract from these expectations is loudly debated and criticised. That is the Hong Kong way," he said.

He also mentioned the recent debate about national security legislation which Article 23 of Hong Kong's constitution requires its to enact.

"We have consulted widely, given many reassurances that Hong Kong's freedoms will not be affected, and the draft legislation has been adjusted to take account of many points made," he said. 

"But the public remains worried. The Chief Executive has deferred passage of the legislation to allow time for further deliberation and explanations. This is what open and accountable government is all about," he added.

Meanwhile, some of the students are visiting Europe for the first time and are excited and eager to encourage Europeans to visit Hong Kong.

Said one: "We have overcome SARS and we are proudly looking ahead."

The ensemble will proceed to Paris where they will give a performance tomorrow.

They will perform in Frankfurt on July 16 in the presence of the Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Frederick Ma, who will pay a visit to Germany's financial capital.

The ensemble is touring Europe at the initiative of the "Hong Kong family": the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong Societies in the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany.